Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upCincinnati · Aug 14
Drop offChicago · Aug 18
Total miles1063 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Hotel
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Aug 14
Check-outSat, Aug 15
First pitch6:10 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Friday, August 14
First pitch at 6:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park tonight — Fireworks Friday tonight.
Stop 01 of 04
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Aug 14
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
6:10 PM ET
vs. Miami Marlins
Must Eat at the Park
Cincinnati Chili Dog (Skyline)
Cincinnati chili served over a hot dog (the Cheese Coney). Skyline Chili has operated in Cincinnati since 1949.
Local Beer
MadTree Axis IPA
Cincinnati's most celebrated craft brewery. Axis IPA is their flagship.
MadTree Brewing
The Big Red Machine
Pilgrim Notes · Cincinnati Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Aug 14
Check-outSat, Aug 15
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:34 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:34 PM
Drive to Cleveland296 mi · 5.1h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cincinnati, OH
Before You Hit the Road
Price Hill Chili
Price Hill neighborhood. Cincinnati chili for breakfast is the move — a 3-way at 8 AM has no business working and yet it does. Open early for the pre-work crowd.
3-Way chili + coffee
Open 7 AM Mon–Sat
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Field of Corn (Cornhenge)
109 concrete ears of corn arranged in rows like Arlington National Cemetery outside Columbus. Each one weighs 1,500 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. There is no satisfying explanation.
Dublin, OH · 10 min detourCincinnati → Cleveland
296 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 2
Saturday, August 15
Cincinnati to Cleveland is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. San Diego Padres at Progressive Field tonight — City Connect Sling Bag tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 04
Cleveland, OH · Sat Aug 15
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. San Diego Padres
Must Eat at the Park
Polish Boy Sausage
A kielbasa in a bun topped with french fries, coleslaw, and hot sauce. A Cleveland original found nowhere else.
Local Beer
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
The Cleveland craft institution. Dortmunder Gold has won more awards than any Ohio beer.
Great Lakes Brewing
The Longest Championship Drought and One Perfect Game
Pilgrim Notes · Cleveland Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Overnight
Check-inSat, Aug 15
Check-outSun, Aug 16
First pitch tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET. Leave by 7:40 AM.
Sun Morning
When to Depart
Leave by7:40 AM
Drive to Pittsburgh256 mi · 4.4h
Game time1:35 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cleveland, OH
Before You Hit the Road
West Side Market
Ohio City since 1912. The greatest market hall in the Midwest. Over 100 vendors — pierogi, kielbasa, fresh bread. Grab breakfast from multiple stalls and eat in the main hall. A Cleveland essential.
Fresh pierogi + kielbasa + bread from multiple stalls
Open 7 AM Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun
Lunch Stop · I-76/80 E, Mahoning Ave exit
Midway Fuel-Up
Simon's Deli
Youngstown. The triple-decker club that Rust Belt travelers have been stopping for on I-76.
Triple-decker club
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio
The only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Cross it from any side, end up where you started.
Zanesville, OH · 10 min detourCleveland → Pittsburgh
256 mi · 4.4h · easy leg
DAY 3
Sunday, August 16
Cleveland to Pittsburgh is 4.4h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 1:35 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Boston Red Sox at PNC Park today. Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 04
Pittsburgh, PA · Sun Aug 16
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
1:35 PM ET
vs. Boston Red Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pittsburgh's most iconic food in its natural habitat. Meat and cheese on airy Italian bread loaded with tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries inside the sandwich. Designed for Pittsburgh truckers in 1933.
Local Beer
Fat Head's Bullpen Tap Bar
Eight rotating taps positioned directly above the Pirates bullpen. The only bar in baseball where you can watch a reliever warm up while drinking a Head Hunter IPA. Arrive before first pitch for a seat at the rail.
Fat Head's Brewery · North Olmsted, OH
Maz, Clemente, and the Most Beautiful View in Baseball
Pilgrim Notes · Pittsburgh Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Overnight
Check-inSun, Aug 16
Check-outMon, Aug 17
First pitch tomorrow at 8:05 PM ET. Leave by 9:46 AM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by9:46 AM
Drive to Chicago511 mi · 8.8h
Game time8:05 PM ET
Long drive — consider stopping overnight in Pittsburgh overnight.
Breakfast Stop · Pittsburgh, PA
Before You Hit the Road
Pamela's Diner
Multiple locations. Obama ordered here on the campaign trail. The hotcakes are thin, buttery, perfect.
Crepe-style hotcakes
Lunch Stop · I-71 N to I-75 N, Covington KY exit
Midway Fuel-Up
Skyline Chili Covington
The Cincinnati-area Skyline Chili location just off I-71/75 on the Pittsburgh to Chicago corridor. Cincinnati chili on spaghetti with shredded cheddar — a 3-Way — is one of the great regional American dishes. This is the correct stop at the midpoint of this drive.
3-Way chili + oyster crackers + coffee
Open 10 AM–10 PM daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Field of Corn (Cornhenge)
109 concrete ears of corn arranged in rows like Arlington National Cemetery outside Columbus. Each one weighs 1,500 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. There is no satisfying explanation.
Dublin, OH · 10 min detourPittsburgh → Chicago
511 mi · 8.8h · long haul
DAY 5
Tuesday, August 18
It's a 8.8h haul from Pittsburgh — plan to break this into two days or drive the night before. First pitch at 8:05 PM ET — Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 04 of 04
Chicago, IL · Tue Aug 18
Wrigley Field
Chicago Cubs · MLB
8:05 PM ET
vs. Chicago White Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
A Vienna beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, dragged through the garden: yellow mustard, bright green relish, onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. No ketchup. Ever.
Local Beer
Old Style Lager
Served at Wrigley since 1950. The single most identified brand with Cubs baseball. The bleachers run on Old Style.
Pabst Brewing
The Friendly Confines and the Longest Drought in Sports
Pilgrim Notes · Chicago Baseball History
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 4 games (avg $46)$184
Hotels · 4 nights (avg $155)$620
Fuel · 1063 mi at $0.18/mi$191
Ballpark food & drinks$200
Total Estimate$1,195
* Estimates only. Prices vary.
How This Trip Was Planned
Our Algorithm
We evaluate many stop orders (up to seven parks: every permutation; larger trips: smart samples plus nearest-neighbor paths from home) and keep the version that preserves the most ballparks on your list with the least driving between games, inside an expanded or standard date ...